Fara-Ur I period : Cylinder seals and impressions, c. 2900-2460 BC

Top left : White limestone cylinder seal of Meskalamdu(g) phase, c. 2685(?)-2645 BC from Royal Cemetery at Ur, grave PG 1586, h : 4 cm (British Museum)two intercrossed lions slaying goats attached by panther & curly-headed hero. Top right : Ur I (c. 2645-2460 BC) phase lapis lazuli seal, h : 2.5 cm (Munich)typical example of final phase of Early Dynastic "band of figures", with elements now side by side, not overlapping. Bottom left : Lapis lazuli cylinder seal with mythological representation, probably from Ur, h : 4.1 cm (British Museum)2 wild bulls on either side of plant growing from mountain are threatened by an Im-dugud, himself attacked by a bull-man and a herothe lower row contains bulls, goats with curved horns, a stag and a bird of prey. Bottom right : Lapis lazuli seal with drinking scene from Royal Cemetery at Ur, grave of Pu-abi (or Shub-ad)according to the inscription, Queen Pu-abi was the owner of the sealritual banquets such as here depicted very common in ancient Western Asiatic art, particularly in Early Dynastic timesthey were an essential part of certain ceremonies